Tandem helicopter



April 27, 1937- c. E. WEAVER TANDEM HELICOPTER Filed July 25, 1935 8Sheets-Sheet 2 April 27,- 1937.

C. E WEAVER TANDEM HELICOPTER Filed Jfi-l 25, 1935 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 ICher/517, [Vial m April 2771937. c. WEAVER TANDEM HELICOPTER Filed Jul25, 1935 s sheds-sheet 4 C. E. WEAVER- TANDEM HELICOPTER Filed July. 25,1935 April 27, 1937.

8 Sheets-Sheet 5 P 1937. c. E. WEAVER I 2,078,823"

TANDEM HELICOPTER Filed July 25, 1935 s Sheets-Sheet s p zv, 1937. c. E.WEAVER 1 2,078,823

TANDEM HELICOPTER Filed July 25, 1935 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 8 Sheets-SheetIII April 27, 1937. c. E. WEAVER TANDEM HELICOPTER Filed July 25, 1935 IJ f 1f gmc/wtoo Patented A r. 27, 1937 umrso STATES PATENT OFFICE TANDEMnaucor'rsn Charles E. Weaver, Water-town, N. Y. Application'July 25,1935, semi: No. 33,136

Claims.

This invention relates to an airship and it aims to provide a novel andgenerally improved construction embodying tandem helicopter principles.

It is particularly aimed to provide such a'conistruction wherein thetandem helicopters are similar in size and weight and comprise inner andouter, oppositelyrotating foils to provide the lifting force. l

It is also'aimed to provide a novelaircraft wherein-means are providedoperable to serve as landing wheels and buoying means, selectively,

according to whether the ship is used on land or water, and which meansnormally is rotated within cowl pockets of the cabin.

Another object is'to provide a novel pushing propeller and meansoperable from within the cabin to vary-the angle of use of 'suchpropeller.

Figure 3 is an enlargedcentral longitudinal sectional view taken on theline 3-3 of'Figure 2; I

Figure 4 is a' horizontal sectional view through the airship;

through the airship taken on a lower plane than iigure4';--

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line l----3div-Figure 1;.

Figure 'l'is an enlargedside elevation showing one of the land wheelsand its-mounting;

Figure.8 is a detail side elevation, showing the resilient mounting forone of the land wheels in section; Figure on the line 3-301, Figure 1;

Figure 1c is irhorizontal sectionalview taken 3 on the line, Ill-l3 orFigure 1;

Figure -11 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line |l--ilofFigure 9;

Figure 1218 a. front. elevation of the'pushing:

propeller structure: a

Figure 1a is a detail section line lag-n of-Figure 12;

a is'a'horizontal sectional view taken taken on the (Cl. 244-47) iFigure 14 is a. detail section taken on the line ll-ll of Figure 5;

Figure 15 is a sectional l5-l5 of Figure 5; Figure 16 is a section ofFigure 2;

detail taken on the line taken on the line IB- IS Figure 17 is a crosssection taken onthe line 11-" of Figure 16;v v p Figure 18 is acrosssection l8--|8 of Fi e'lfi;

Figure 19 is a cross section taken on i9'l9 of Figure 16;

Figure 20 is a longitudinal section taken on theline 20-40 of- Figure'2;

Figure 21 is a cross section taken on the line 2I2I of Figure20; and VFigure 22 is a cross section taken on 22-22-of Figure 20.

takes on the. line the line the line Referring specflcally to thedrawings wherein like reference characters designate like or similarparts, 23 designates agondola-shaped body havinga cabin 24.- .Theseparts may be of any desired construction but preferably have theirframework and bracing of a light metal, usually an' aluminum alloy andfor instance duralumin.

Tandem helicopter devices are employed one at each end of the machine asat A. These devices are similar, in weight and-dimensions, and aredisposed at the same height. or elevation.

Each device A comprises afve'rtical tubular shaft'which is :Iournaled,in a vertical tubular bearing 26 on the machine',-preferably with ballbearings 21' interposed as shown. Shafts V 25 have radiating arms 23attached thereto p by means of hubs 23 and such arms 28 mount Figure- 5is another horizontal sectional view frames 30 having spaced annularwalls 3|, con- 3| have foils 32 connected thereto as at 33.

Journaled within the shaft 25 concentric therewitli are shafts 33*withball bearings 35 preferably interposed between such-shafts. Hubs 33rigidly connect arms 31 toitheshaft 34 and they suspend a framja havingv annularwalls '33 concentric with the walls 3! and axis of shafts 25and 34. Such-walls 33-.havefoiis 40 attached thereto as at 4L; d I

The outer foils 32 of suchhelicopter device are they may be of anydesired number. The number of the foils 40 of each helicopter device,corresponds'to the number ofthe outer foils 32 of that helicopter. Allofthe foilszll are mounted at an angle of aboutlz degrees and 'so'constructed v as to force air in toward the center, the depthof thecurve thereof increasing and narrowing preferably similar and fourin-numbr although inwardly as it approaches the receding or trailingend, the inner edge having a slighter curve or roll, thus compressingthe air taken in by the advancing or leading edge. The foils 48, in themain, are constructed generally like thefoils 32 except that the outsidecurve or roll is less than the inner curve or roll, which is sharp atthis point, thus forcing the air taken in by the leading edge toward theoutside, thereby causing compression of the air between the outer andinner foils which adds materially to the lifting force exerted by bothsets of foils 32 and 48,

forcing the air downward. The inner and outer frames 38 and 38,respectively, revolving in opposite directions, are timed at one-fourthof a turn with each other so that the side-wash caused by one is pickedup by the other, again increasing the lift by compression. While theframes 38 and 38 and the foils 32 and 48, as well as their mounting andsupporting means may be of any material desired, yet they are preferablymade of light metal, usually an aluminum alloy such as duralumin.

The specific shape of the foils 32 and 48 will be better understood froma consideration of the detail Figures 16 to 22. Arrows indicate thedirection of turning of the said frames 38 and 38 and foils 32 and 48 inFigure 2. V

The aforesaid shafts 25 and 34 are driven from a suitable prime mover orengine 42 located centrally within the hull of the cabin, which undersuitable control, drives a longitudinally disposed shaft 43. Such shaft43 is suitably journaled and at its forward end has a spur gear wheel 44keyed thereto enmeshed with a spur gear wheel 45 diaposed above the sameand both gear wheels preferably being housed within a casing 45 suitablymounted within the hull. Said gear wheel 45 is keyed to a countershaft41 in turn having a bevel gear wheel 48 keyed thereto.

At the rear end, shaft 43 has a spur gear wheel 48 keyed theretoenmeshed with a spur gear wheel 58 in turn enmeshed with a spur gearwheel 51 keyed to a countershaft 52 having a bevel gear wheel 53 keyedthereon. The gear wheels 48, 58, and are preferably located within acasing 54 and the latter has a short shaft 55 journaled therein on whichthe idler gear wheel 58 is carried.

The gear wheels 53 and 48, are interposed between and in mesh withlarger gear wheels 54 and 55 keyed to the hollow shaft 25 and 84respectively. Shafts 52 and 41, are journaled in and the gear wheels 53,54, 55, and .48, are preferably housed in enlargements or casings 58 atopposite ends of the hull of the gondola as shown.

Referring now to the landing gear, four wheels 58 are employed, beingjournaled on axles 58 mounted in forks .88 at one end of arms 5|,equipped with segments 62 at their other ends provided with gear teethat 53. Such segments 62 are pivoted on rods. extending longitudinally ofthe machine and fastened to brackets 55 on the hull. Braces 85 areconnected to each axle 58 and pivoted on the rods 54, so that thewheels, braces, and arms 6| may swing on the axes of rods 64. As 'bestshown in Figure 5, a pair of longitudinal shafts 51 are suitablyjournaled within the hull'. adjacent opposite sides thereof and eachhaving spur gears 88 thereon enmeshed with the teeth 63. Bevel gearwheels 58 are keyed to the shafts 51 meshing with bevel gear wheels 18carried by a. cross shaft 1| having a bevel gear wheel 12 keyed theretoand enmeshed with a bevel gear wheel 13 carried by the main shaft 14 ofa motor or engine 15. Such motor or engine is preferably operable fromthe cabin of the gondola so as to position and maintain the wheels 58 inlanding position as shown in Figure 6 in horizontal position as shown inFigures 4 and 5 or in retracted position as shown in dotted lines inFigure 6. In the retracted position, such wheels are locatedwithin'cowled pocket members 15 on the cabin, having openings 11, toenable the wheels to pass into and out of the same.

Particular attention is called to the fact that said wheels 58 havebuoyant tires 18 thereon, preferably being pneumatic balloon or mushroomtires so that in the horizontal position shown in Figures 4 and 5, thetires will act as floats, pontoons or stabilizers when landing on water.

'A fifth wheel is employed as at 18 which is normally retracted as shownin full lines in Figure '1 into a central longitudinal pocket 88 beneaththe gondola. This wheel is adapted to be projected into the dotted line,position shown in Figure 7 to raise the adjacent wheels 58 from theground, when it is desired to taxi. Such wheel 18 is journaled on anaxle 8| carried by a fork 82 from which a post 83 rises. Post 83 ispivoted within a bearing 84, secured in place by screw cap means 85engaging a screw stud 88 on the post 83. Bearing 84 is carried by alever 81 pivoted at 88 along the center line of the hull of the gondola.Within the bearing 84 is a coil spring 84' fastened at one end to thepost 83 and at the other end to the bearing 84, being so tensioned as tonormally maintain the wheel 18 in a straight ahead position, but

permitting'the same to yield when striking an obstruction and thereafterto return to normal position. Such lever 81 and wheel 18 thereon areadapted to be raised and lowered by any suitable means. For instance,hydraulically under control of suitable means within the pilot's cabin.To this end a cylinder 88 is pivoted at 88 to the machine and atopposite ends has pipe connections 8| to admit and exhaust power fluid.A piston 82 is operable within the cylinder 88 intermediate the pipeconnections 8| and a rodmission of power fluid to the tubes 8| againstthe piston 82, the lever 81 will be raised and lowered and the wheel 18thereon correspondg ingly raised and lowered. This wheel is alsopreferably provided with a pneumatic balloon or mushroom tire as at 82.r

A pushing propeller is employed at 83. While this propeller may be ofany desired construction, it preferably comprises any suitable number ofangularly disposed blades 84*, carried by a skeleton reinforcing frame85, and which has brace members 86 coacting with the outer ends of theblades. shaft 81, driven by a suitable motor 88 carried by a bracket 88pivotally mounted by alined vertical elements I 88, connected to arms INon one of the hollow bearing devices 26. This propeller is adapted to beswung laterally, that is to either side on the vertical axis passingthrough the pivot, members I88, and to this end, the

This propeller 83 is keyed to a bracket 88 has a segment I82 providedwith gear teeth I83. Teeth I83 are preferably worm teeth and mesh with aworm gear I84 keyed to a shaft I85, suitably journaled in bearings I88on the gondola and. at opposite ends, said shaft I85 has drums I81 keyedthereto, and each pro- .vided with spiral grooves I88, with the angle ofsuch grooves of the different drums being oppoalong the side walls ofthe gondola, and they have suitable, turnbuckles H2 within-their lengthwhereby they may be maintained taut. It'will v be understood that theelements I09 'arewrapped on the Windlass I09 in opposite directions sothat by turning the windlass in one direction one element its will beshortened and the other correspondingly lengthened, and vice versa,correspondingly swinging the propeller 93.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spiritand scope of the invention.

- I claim as my invention:-

1. An airship of the class described having a gondola, andliftinghelicopter devices therefor, said devices each comprising inner andouter oppositely rotating frames in the same plane and having rimsclosely adjacent at the center of the machine, the other framesrotating. in

. opposite directions and foils carried by said frames.

2. An airship of the-class described having a gondola, vertical bearingsadjacent opposite ends thereof, outer shafts joumaled in said bearings,

inner shafts journaled within said outer shafts, means operable to drivethe inner andouter shafts in opposite directions, concentric inner andouter frames in the same plane carried by said inner and outer shafts,said outer frames extending one substantially to the other'at the centerof the airship andbeing rotatable in opposite directions, and foilscarried by said frames.

. 3. An airship of the class described having a gondola, verticalbearings adjacent opposite ends thereof, outer shafts journaled in saidbearings, inner shafts journaled within said outer shafts, meansoperable to drive the inner and outer shafts in opposite directions,concentric inner and outer frames in the same planecarried by said innerand outershafts, saidzouter frames extending one substantially to theother at the center of the airship and being rotatable in oppositedirections, foils carried by said frames of an area to function asparachutes, arms on one of said bearings, a bracket pivoted to saidcentric shafts, frames in the same plane on said shafts terminatingrelatively close to each other, said frames operable in oppositedirections, rows of foils carried by said frames, the area of the foilsof each frame being substantially co-exten-,

sive with the area of that frame.

5. An airship of the class described having a a helicopter device, saiddevice comprising concentric shafts, frames on said shafts in the sameplane terminating relatively close to each other,

said frames operable in opposite directions, rows carried by saidframes, the foils of the of foils outer row having the'depth of thecurve thereof increasing and narrowing as itapproaches the trailing end,the inner end oil such latterfoils having a slighter curve to causecompression of foils having the outside curve less than the inner curveto force the air taken in by the leading edge toward the outside tocompress the air between the outer and inner foils to aid the liftingforce.

6. An airship of the class described having a rotor including peripheralframes operable in opposite directions, said frames being disposed inthe same plane and terminating relatively close to each other at theirrims, each frame having inner and -outer rings in vertically spacedrelation,

the air taken in by the leading edge, the inner means connecting theinner and outer rings, and

foils connected to said means between the rings.

7. An airship of. the. class described having a rotor includingperipheral frames operable in opposite directions, said frames beingdisposed in the same plane and terminating relatively close to eachotherat their. rims, each frame havinginner and outer rings in verticallyspaced relation, means connecting the inner andouter rings, and

foils connected to said means between the rings,

said foils being in inner and outer rows.

, 8. An airship of the class described having a rotor includingperipheral frames operable in opposite directions,-said frames'beingdisposed in the same plane and terminating relatively close to eachother at their rims, each frame having inner and outer rings invertically spaced relation, means connecting the inner and outerrings,

vertical arms spacing said rings, foils connected to said arms betweenthe rings, an oppositely rotatable body surrounded by said rings, saidbody comprising inner and .outer spaced rings, arms joining the lastmentioned inner and outer spaced rings, foils connected to the lastmentioned arms and being in substantially the same plane as the firstmentioned foils.

10. An airship of the class described having a helicopter device, saiddevice comprising a peripheral frame, said frame having spaced-inner andouter rings, the latter being above the former, vertical arms spacingsaid rings, foils connectedto said arms between the rings, an oppositelyrotatable body surrounded by said rings, said body comprising inner andouter spaced rings, arms "joining the last mentioned inner and outerspaced rings, foils connected to the last mentioned arms and being insubstantially the same plane as the first mentioned foils, the firstmentioned foils having'inwardly curved portions and the second mentionedfoils having outwardly curved portions to coactwith the first mentionedcurved portions.

- CHARLES E. WEAVER.

